QE2’S LAST WALTZ ACROSS THE ATLANTIC

5th Feb 2003

She’s crossed the Atlantic 776 times, completed 20 full World Cruises, sailed over five million nautical miles (which is nine times to the moon and back) and has carried almost three million passengers. She is quite simply the most famous ship in the world. 2003 marks Queens Elizabeth 2’s final year as Cunard’s transatlantic flagship. From May 2004, after a major refit and refurbishment, she will assume her new role as Cunard’s cruising flagship and be deployed on cruises to the Mediterranean and Northern Europe from Southampton. QE2 will also continue to undertake the annual World Cruise.

Her last transatlantic season in 2003 consists of 17 six-day crossings of the Atlantic between April and December. Fares start from £899 per person and include the transatlantic crossing and a return flight from New York. Summer sailings have fares starting from £1,049 per person. QE2’s Atlantic crossings also offer special themes ranging from jazz to murder mystery.

Peter Shanks, Senior Vice President Europe, says:

“We are expecting a sell-out season for the QE2 across the Atlantic and interest is very high. Many of our loyal customers want to do it just one more time - and for many who have always wanted to do it but never have, now is the time”.

QE2’s ‘American Dream’ package holiday programmes combine a transatlantic crossing with a stay in a top North American resort or city. This year’s destinations are New York, Orlando, Florida (Miami and Naples), Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon, and Niagara Falls and Toronto. New for 2003 is the ‘Autumn Colours’ tour of picturesque New England. Fares start from £1,999 per person.

Cunard’s flexible Atlantic packages include Concorde, British Airways flight upgrades and New York hotel stays. Cars, motorcycles and the family pets (dogs, cats and birds) can also be accommodated on board.

The British-built and British-registered QE2, launched on the Clyde by Her Majesty The Queen, remains the fastest passenger ship in the world and is undoubtedly the most famous. Her top speed of 34 knots and cruising speed of 28.5 knots are considerably greater than those of any other passenger ship operating in the world – speed which gives the ship the flexibility to avoid areas of bad weather and to visit a greater number of ports in a given time than her rivals. QE2 attracts thousands of sightseers wherever she goes and is one of the most potent ambassadors for Britain worldwide.

QE2 is the perfect choice for families providing the best children’s entertainment facilities on any British ship including the largest nursery at sea, staffed by British nannies, complete with its own mini cinema. ‘QE2 Cadets’, a specific programme for youngsters, has plenty to keep children aged 7 to 16 entertained for the entire voyage. Older children have their own area too, which includes free video games and films.

After completing two final transatlantic crossings after the 2004 World Cruise, QE2 will assume her new role as a dedicated ex-UK vessel.

Her role as Cunard’s transatlantic flagship will be taken over by Queen Mary 2 – the largest, longest, tallest, widest and most expensive passenger ship ever – which enters service on 12 January 2004. In her new role, QE2 will join Caronia, in offering cruises from Southampton, and both these vessels will be further augmented with the addition of an 85,000-ton cruise ship, currently known as ‘The New Cunarder’, in early 2005.